Monday, July 14, 2008

Choosing Toddler Toys That Help A Child To Grow

by Gary Jonathan Clay
When children are very small the way it learns take several distinct steps. Traditional toys help in the development of actions and will facilitate the learning experience. Babies go through a stage of clasping and pushing toys to see what will happen - around six months onwards - and learn that a ball will roll away etc.

Once he gets to nine months old he will apply the same tactics on all objects in its path. This is a learning curve and the child will discover that different actions will produce different results. By one year old the child will have worked out the different between kicking a ball or shaking a rattle.

When he starts to walk - the toddler stage - it will require more complex toys to keep him engaged and interested. Toddler toys come in many forms from push-along toys to sit-in toys, from ride-on toys to rocking horses, the list is endless. Some clever toddler toys are built to 'grow' with the child. They come with flip over bases to turn the toy say from a wheeled toy to a rocking toy when the child is more confident with its balance. This also applies when the child grows taller.

Traditional toys like trikes - either two wheel or three wheel depending at what stage of balance the child is at - are firm favorites with children and adults alike and you can virtually see the child growing in confidence when he has mastered the art of co-ordination. Of course it is the precursor to the more grown up bicycle. Ride on toddler toys provide the first sensation of motion and they soon learn to scoot along with their feet. This both strengthens the legs and co-ordinates hand movements used to turn the steering wheel etc.

Ride on toys also strengthen the legs since the pushing motion required to move the toy is somewhat more complex. Naturally the parent can push or pull the child along until the child can master the art so this toy is ideal for getting the adult involved. Both of the previous toys usually come in bright colors and interesting shapes. They also have noise makers on board whether it be a vibrating noise mimicking an engine or the wheels clacking as they go forward. Sometimes lights or bells are included for effect and children just love the drama of it all.

What is interesting about traditional toys is that there is a growing demand for them after the influx of electronic toys. More and more people are looking back to their own childhood and realize that perhaps a child should be allowed to play naturally and use its imagination to the full. They don't have to be 'entertained' by TV or computer games all of the time and if they are they soon become unresponsive to outside stimulation.

It is a recognized part of human development that children will shout and run around, make noise etc. Provide them with traditional toddler toys that will allow them to develop naturally.
About the Author:
Gary Clay is an expert on toddler toys and manages stylish kids store Monkeyshine the home of premium traditional toys in the UK

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